Friday, May 03, 2019
The photo taken on a warm, sunshiny, lovely day, captures my African Pigmy goat, Sego Lily, snuggled against a snag and enjoying her zzzzs. Sego Lily is mama to twins, Breeze and Poppy, who now are 10 years old. We must guess Sego Lily’s age, as long ago someone rescued her from a herd and made her a pet. Having learned late about being handled, she’s cautious around humans. Only after months of living with me could she be approached and handled. She’s always suspicious of motive, and super sensitive, so she’ll run and hide at the slightest possibility that someone might want to trim her hooves or medicate her. And the babies instantly mimic her cues.
I estimate that she’s now about 15 years old. Sego Lily came to me as a “toss-in” with her babies when they were six months old, and since their birth had been handled by humans. The babies instantly became my buddies, but suspicious mama needed time.
From the beginning it was striking how bonded those three little goats were, and over time, they’ve evolved very strongly into a unit of one. The tiny herd goes everywhere together, and when loose follows me around.
These days, I watch Sego Lily closely. Over the last couple of years, she’s become increasingly arthritic, and this spring seems very old and tired. It’s surprising how attached to her I’ve grown; it’s sad trying to imagine us without her. Especially for her no-longer babies, who’ve never been separated one moment from their mom.
Now Sego Lily’s babies are mature adults, and their good mama of unknown age still can get onto her feet and eat with interest in food. Although Sego Lily moves stiffly, and coming out of winter, her coat has a slightly moth-eaten look, maybe she can hold on and keep staying with us.
Dear Friends, have a wonderful day. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 